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Rural Spring 1999 RESEARCH REPORT Volume 10, Issue 9 Published by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs Stipes Hall 518 Western Illinois University 1 University Circle Macomb, IL 61455-1390 309/298-2237 http://iira.org Student Suicide and Illinois’ Small Schools: Breaking the Silence by Steven D. Rittenmeyer J.D.1 Introduction The Columbine High School massacre of 1999 seared the According to 1991 World Health Organization data, youth realization that today’s youth are more inclined than ever suicide in the past 35 years has increased at a greater rate than to turn to deadly violence to resolve their personal disputes for any other group: 300 percent for males and 230 percent for with others into America's collective consciousness. females. Moreover, a 1990 study reported that there are more Apparently lost in the collective rage against the teenage than 500,000 attempts each year, with approximately one in murderers is that, by killing themselves, they reaffirmed every 100 or 5,000 attempts completed annually (Jackson 1999). a second tragic phenomenon among our youth — that is, the perception that suicide is also a way to make one’s In 1998, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s personal troubles disappear. Young urban and rural boys (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that suicide is and girls are choosing this permanent solution to life’s the fourth leading cause of death among people ages 5 to 24 transitory problems in far less complex — and far lonelier in America, accounting for approximately 12 percent of all — circumstances. Most cases of youth suicide resemble deaths among the young. In its report, the CDC presented the death of Erin Lyn Melvin. the latest results of its survey of nearly 11,000 high school students (U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services In October 1996, in Galva, Illinois, an agricultural community 1998). The findings were as follows: of 2,700 in the western part of the state, high school principal Steve Johnson was informed that Erin was · Approximately 24 percent (2,617) of young people had threatening suicide. More specifically, as alleged in the thought seriously about suicide. lawsuit filed by Erin’s parents, he was made aware of a note · Females (30 percent) were nearly twice as likely as males in which the girl stated her intent to kill herself (Melvin v. (18 percent) to contemplate ending their lives. Galva 1997). Believing that there was no way she would · Approximately 18 percent (1,963) of those who had carry out the act, the principal responded by writing a note contemplated suicide had progressed in their thoughts to to a counselor, who was away at a meeting, directing him to the point of crafting a plan to carry out the act. see Erin first thing the next morning. He did not summon Erin from class to his office, nor did he try to contact her parents · During the 12 months prior to the survey, 9 percent (981) or anyone else at the time. Upon arriving at school the had attempted to kill themselves. following morning, Mr. Johnson learned that thirteen-year old · Approximately 3 percent (327) had perpetrated attempts Erin had hung herself in the closet of her bedroom at her which caused injury, poisoning, or overdose serious home the previous evening (Johnson deposition 1998). enough to require medical attention. 1Author is Professor in the Department of Educational Administration, Western Illinois University, and of counsel to Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton, and Taylor, Ltd. This effort is dedicated to Tom and Eunice Hutson and to the memory of their beloved son Trent, 1978-1998. The author wishes to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Ms. Suzan Nash, Executive Director, Western Illinois Regional Council/Community Action Agency and Dr. David Turner, Executive Director, Illinois Principals Association. Support for this research was provided by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs. Any views expressed in this report belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs or Western Illinois University. Layout by Darrell Sutton. 1 Research Objective and Method During the summer of 1998, the Illinois Principals Association Small Districts are comprised of fewer than 1,000 students (a (IPA) and the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at subcategory of the small district group, labeled Rural Districts, Western Illinois University jointly sponsored a survey of the are those with 500 or fewer students in attendance); Mid-Size state’s public school principals. The purpose was to gather Districts range between 1,000 and 2,500 students; and Large baseline data regarding the incidence of suicidal behavior Districts are those with more than 2,500 enrollment. A among Illinois public school students, along with information breakdown of the categories shows that Small Districts made concerning various legal and policy implications. up 60 percent of the respondents, of those 32 percent fit into the subcategory of Rural Districts. Mid-Size Districts accounted Surveys mailed to the 1,847 members of the Illinois Principals for 30 percent of the responses, and Large Districts accounted Association generated 462 (25 percent) responses. Three for 10 percent. analytical categories were created based on total enrollment by district. Survey Results In the past five years, more than 80 percent of the districts had In the Rural District subcategory, the data are even more not had a student suicide. Of the districts reporting student unsettling. The 148 reporting districts with fewer than 500 suicides, approximately 11 percent had experienced a single students are equivalent to 32 percent of the total respondents. event, while the remaining 9 percent experienced multiple Of that group, 15 reported student suicides totaling at least deaths. Suicide attempts appear to be more widely spread, 24 student deaths in the past five years. This group of the with 56 percent of the respondents reporting such incidents. smallest schools which report suicides represents 3 percent Of this group, 42 percent reported multiple attempts. of the total number of schools participating in the survey; however, the number of deaths reported constitutes 18 Suicides percent of the total. The total number of reported suicides was 133 during the five- Suicide Attempts year period (Table 1). Of that number, 38 (29 percent) occurred in Small Districts, fifty-two (39 percent) happened in A conservative estimate is that at least 236 districts (56 Mid-Size Districts, while Large Districts reported 43 (32 percent) reported more than 900 attempted student suicides percent). Among the approximately 80 districts reporting in the five years preceding the study (Table 2). A categorical student suicides, 26 (33 percent) are in the Small District breakdown finds 28 Large Districts reporting more than 200 category. That figure in itself is not disproportionate; however, attempts, 72 Mid-Size Districts reporting over 300, and 136 when enrollment differentials among the three district Small Districts reporting almost 400 incidents. In the Rural categories are considered, the figure is noteworthy. The 26 District subcategory, approximately 54 percent of the Small Districts reporting student suicides amount to 9 percent respondents said that none of their students had attempted of the respondents in this category and 6 percent of the total. suicide; however, 66 districts documented at least 165 In terms of suicide rates, Small Districts report a minimum of incidents. These data conservatively show that the 32 percent 38 self-inflicted deaths, or 29 percent of the total of 133. Thus, of schools in Illinois defined as small account for 40 percent according to these data, 6 percent of the school districts in of all the attempted student suicides in the five years preceding Illinois have experienced 29 percent of the student suicides this study. Moreover, 16 percent of schools in the smallest over the past five years. And, surprisingly, these are the category experienced 18 percent of the attempts. smallest districts. Table 2. Reported Suicide Attempts by District Size Table 1. Reported Suicides by District Size District Size Reported Attempts District Size Reported Suicides Small District 388 Small District 38 Rural District 165 Rural District 24 Mid-Size District 307 Mid-Size District 52 Large District 212 Large District 43 Source: Illinois Principal Survey, 1998 Source: Illinois Principal Survey, 1998 2 Demographics level of participation among staff, it is a fair conclusion that the lack of specialized staff, such as counselors and The demographics of the suicide phenomenon among social workers, in rural areas leads to the greater Illinois students reveal some very clear trends. First, there involvement by faculty and building administrators. is a wide age range among the survey respondents encompassing literally all ages of students. In addition, as A second question sought information about who received reported in the Centers for Disease Control data, females training. Among all respondents, 72 percent of counselors are clearly more apt to attempt to kill themselves. In the had training, followed by social workers at 64 percent, present study, including multiple attempts by the same school psychologists at 45 percent, principals with 40 student, 278 (126 percent) reported incidents involved percent, and teachers with 31 percent. This stark difference girls, while 160 (73 percent) involved boys. The most between the level of actual staff involvement and training frequent age is 16, while the median age is 14.5. was prevalent throughout districts of all sizes. Risk Factors Policy and Practice To Deal with Student Suicide Risk factors for suicide attempts are revealing. In all three The Illinois survey also inquired about established methods categories of schools, depression is present in more than of dealing with both actual and threatened suicides. Overall, 90 percent of cases. New or increased use of drugs or just 28 percent of the respondents reported operating alcohol is the second or third ranked factor across the pursuant to a formal policy; whereas, approximately 57 categories.

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